Over-educated? American man, 71, going for 30th college degree

There is no substitution for getting yourself a good education but Michael Nicholson may be going a bit far. The uber-educated American from Michigan, 71, is studying for his 30th degree. And he's not stopping there.

That dream job education gets you? He never stopped learning long enough to get it. "I just stayed in school and took menial jobs to pay for the education and just made a point of getting more degrees," the native of Kalamazoo told ABC News this week. "And eventually I retired so that I could go full-time to school."

22 masters degrees for Nicholson

This 30th degree will be a masters in criminal justice and be his 23rd masters degree, two of which are in health administration and special-education administration, both areas he's never worked in. He's also not worked in the field of religion, though his very first degree, from Michigan's William Tyndale college, was in religious education.

All of his degrees have been achieved sitting in classes, none from online or courses or the mail, and he's attended 28 of 29 graduation ceremonies. How did he become so enamored of higher education? His parents instilled it in him, he said, as neither were able to go to college and his Mother wanted him to do something other than work at a factory.

It may not be what she had in mind, but Nicholson did work at an institution of higher learning, working for 11 years at Western Michigan University - he earned some of his degrees there - as a parking-meter attendant. His wife, who has 7 degrees, helps him with his work as he's not a computer guy and so "she has to do it." Maybe a degree in computer science next?

Whichever degree he chooses next he plans to hit the books for a 31st degree, and beyond. “It's stimulation to go to the class, look at the material that's required and meet the teacher and students. It makes life interesting for me," he said.